by J. T. Edson
lxiii Cowhands in the American cattle-raising States always used a ‘burro’ if available. Should one have to leave his saddle on the ground, he placed it on its side or stood it on its head, but never laid it on its skirts.
lxiv Pike-characin: Boulengerella Lateristriga: one of the Cyprini-formes, carp, group of fish orders: Native of north-eastern South America, particularly the Amazon region, it attains a length of twenty inches and is a predator. Often lying in wait at the surface before attacking its prey, the species was a favorite quarry of the Wurka-Telonga bow-hunters.
lxv Dwarf crocodile: only surviving member of the genus Osteo-laemus, O. Tetraspis, inhabits streams of the West African forests and is an inoffensive creature which seldom exceeds six feet in length.
lxvi ‘False’ gavial: sole specimen of the genus Tomistoma, T. Schlegeli, attains a length of more than fourteen feet, feeds exclusively on fish and is found in Borneo, Malaysia and Sumatra. It is replaced by the ‘true’ gavial, Gavialis Gangeticus—which differs in some anatomical points and grows larger, but also eats little other than fish—in the rivers and large lakes of India and Burma.
lxvii No one knows who among the Seminoles was first to discover the methods by which an alligator could be captured alive by a single strong man. However, even to this day, members of that nation perform the feat.
lxviii History does not record who first discovered that massaging the collection of nerve centers under the alligator’s throat and along the chest and belly could induce a state of trance. However, a similar knowledge with regard to crocodiles was possessed in Africa and India since long before the birth of Christ. The author cannot guess why the ‘Suppliers’ had not imparted the knowledge to the Telongas.
lxix The record was two hundred and fifty-eight feet, two and three-eighths inches. The longest measured unofficial throw was two hundred and eighty-three feet, by Arep Kibiege of Kenya in 1948. However, possibly for the reasons quoted in Paragraph One, APPENDIX TWO, the international athletic authorities refused on a technicality to consider Dawn Drummond-Clayton’s—as she was at the time—throw as the women s record.
lxx Deputy Sheriff Bradford Counter employs the method adopted by Dawn Gunn in the author’s biographical work, THE SIXTEEN DOLLAR SHOOTER, but used another technique in BAD HOMBRE.
lxxi Unlike on Earth, for some reason Bunduki had not been able to determine, the elephants of Zillikian lived in patriarchal and not matriarchal family groups.
lxxii For the benefit of new readers, see APPENDIX ONE, for an explanation of the term, melombuki.
lxxiii Lai-jitsu: the fast drawing of the longer, tachi, of the samurai’s daisho, pair of swords. An explanation of how this is performed and how effective it can be in skilled hands is given in the author’s biography OLE DEVIL AT SAN JACINTO.
lxxiv The Sikhs of India use much the same kind of device. Known as a ‘chakra’ or ‘chakram’, the war-quoits were carried in decreasing sizes over the pointed peak of the warriors’ turban-helmets. They were lethal to about fifty yards, but would still inflict damage at twice that distance. In skilled hands, the Cara-Buntes’ halakas were equally effective.
lxxv Although it had been several centuries since there had been any contact between the Wurka-Telongas and the Cara-Buntes, the legends still were told about the latter. The formers hunters occasionally had seen Cara-Bunte vessels of various kinds passing by in search of a way to reach the hinterland.
lxxvi Sir Armond John Drummond-Clayton s definitive work, KNIFE FIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, like an equally comprehensive treatise on unarmed combat techniques written by Commander James Bond, R.N.—its preparation is referred to in his biographer, Ian Fleming’s DOCTOR NO—were published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, However, being classified ‘Top Secret’, the only copies of both works are in the possession of Britain’s M.I.5 and the United States of America’s Central Intelligence Agency.
lxxvii Because of his own country’s and Britain’s Official Secrets Act, W.D. Randall, of Randall Made Knives, Orlando, Florida, has never been able to give Sir Armond John Drummond-Clayton the credit he deserves for his part in helping to develop the Model I ‘All Purpose’ fighting knife. In fact, it was only with difficulty that the author was allowed to mention it. See Appendix One.
lxxviii Judge Roy. S. Tinney, Secretary of the American Academy of Arms.
lxxix If Sir Henry Curtis’s biographer, H. Rider Haggard, knew of the son, he was too tactful to mention the matter in KING SOLOMON’S MINES or ALLAN QUATERMAIN.
lxxx Mark Counter’s history is recorded in the authors ‘Floating Outfit’ series of biographies.
lxxxi Even to this day, British Military Intelligence is reluctant to comment upon, or even acknowledge the existence of ‘Group Thirteen’.
lxxxii ‘Clip’ point: one where the back of the blade curves to meet the main cutting surface in a concave arc. In the case of the Randall Model 12 ‘Smithsonian bowie knife, the arcs ‘false’, or ‘top’ cutting edge is five and a quarter inches in length and as sharp as the main cutting surface.
lxxxiii What happened to James Bowie’s knife after his death at the conclusion of the siege at the Alamo Mission—San Antonio de Bexar, Texas-on March 6, 1836, is told in THE QUEST FOR BOWIE’S BLADE. Some authorities have claimed that Bowie’s elder brother, Rezin Pleasant, was the actual designer of the knife which was made by Arkansas’ master cutler, James Black.
lxxxivMelombuki: a Masai moran—warrior—who has on four separate occasions grasped and held the tail of a hunted lion so that his companions could close in and kill it with their spears or simis—fighting knives. A man who attains the title is expected to be ready to fight anybody, or anything.
lxxxv Details of Bradford Counter’s career as a deputy sheriff are given in the authors ‘Rockabye County’ series of treatises on modern Texas law enforcement.
lxxxvi Generally a saber is used for slashing when mounted, while an epee’s primary purpose is thrusting and fighting on foot.
lxxxvii Although Sir Armond John and Lady Hazel Drummond-Clayton served in ‘Group Thirteen’ with Miss A.P. (Amelia) Benkinsop, M.A., B. Sc. (Oxon), Honorary Member, Holloway Old Girls’ Association—some details of whose career are recorded in the author’s BLONDE GENIUS, written in collaboration with Peter Clawson—their family background did not meet the specialized qualifications for Dawn to be allowed to attend Benkinsop’s Academy For The Daughters Of Gentlefolk.
lxxxviii
Details of Clark Savage, Jr.’s life and adventures are recorded in Kenneth Robeson s extensive series of ‘DOC SAVAGE’ biographies and in DOC SAVAGE, HIS APOCALYPTIC LIFE by Philip Jose Farmer. This latter work also elaborates upon the source of the longevity pills.
lxxxix Unfortunately Doc Savage was unable to isolate the immunity element so that it could be reproduced without the added effect of increasing the recipient’s life expectancy. The latter factor, taken with the human race’s ever multiplying birthrate, would have led to Earth becoming over-populated. So it was decided that the pills were unsuitable for general use and they were never released to the public.